A follow-up collection from the author of the astonishing long poem eat salt | gaze at the ocean (Talonbooks, 2020), Allostatic Load chronicles the lived experiences of a Black woman in a tumultuous year marked by global racial tensions. Interweaving personal narratives with collective struggles, the poems delve into themes of identity, ancestral trauma, and the relentless pursuit of social justice. Through poignant exploration, Désil unveils the interplay of chronic wear and tear – allostatic load – and the burden of systemic injustice and neglect, inviting readers to witness the vulnerability and resilience required to navigate the complexities of healing.